Three new little turtles are born into this world...

Lydia is off work, Yeah! Now it is time to deal with our first point of business/pleasure before we leave Denver. A fortieth birthday present and much much more….

The Saunders ladies are strong but I’m not suggesting I put that to the test again any time soon. Needle, ink, pink skin and passion met yesterday followed by a G and T and later a handful of Advil. I might have said the Saunders ladies are strong but I didn’t say they were masochistic, a lady knows when to medicate.

For those of you who have ever spent time dreaming or designing a tattoo will understand this story and for those of you who have not, best get to working on yours! When I started looking at getting another tattoo, yes father (said in the best Star Wars voice I can muster) I’m getting another one. I thought I wanted color but every time I thought I had something these pesky little turtles started popping into my brain. So I thought, oh well turtles can be done in color; I mean tons of people have had them imprinted on their bodies. Ok to discuss that point, if you are looking into a tattoo maybe you shouldn’t Google it unless you want to change your mind. Colored turtles are gross!  Now that I may have turned you off of getting a tattoo or at least a colored turtle tattoo sit back and enjoy my tale of how I came up with my new tattoo.

In 2007, I took a trip with my Mother and Sister to Costa Rica. We have shuffled through these sands many times but this time it was different, It was just the three of us. On this trip we had a wonderful opportunity to protect and serve, baby turtles that is.

One morning, at o’my god early 30, we went down to the hatchery and met our new charges. Our job was to protect these little guys on land, from 4 foot’eds and my mothers feathered friends, until they met their new salty mother and were on their own.

This experience and the little guys won my heart. They are so darn cute as they make a mad dash for the ocean. You can’t just dump them in you have to let them struggle and march their little flippers down the beach so they know where they came from. They made tracks in the sand and in my heart.

My tattoo consists of three turtles, each one representing one of those tuff Saunders Ladies I mentioned earlier. Yep, Sorry Mom but you got to be the biggest one, followed by my older sister with me in the lead. These are in order from my shoulder down to my fingers. I placed these little guys on the underside of my arm, remember that pink skin I mentioned earlier, OUCH. This way they are always close to my body, with my mother and my sister surrounding my heart when I cross my arms or give myself a bear hug (now a turtle hug).

Thank you to all of you who contributed to my pain and suffering for my fortieth birthday present! I love them and wear them in honor. Who knows maybe someday they will have color!

"Madge"

Pinch Me

Wow, school is out! No time to gather myself. We are less than 60 days away from our wedding. That means everything that I've pushed off because I was in school has to happen yesterday.

My mind is spinning so fast, hard to slow down enough to let the thoughts drop to form sentences. I can't believe what has transpired since August. I'm half way through my two year plan to get a nursing degree.

I've spent way too much time away from my honey and my community. In August I moved down to Del Norte to attend school in Alamosa. In March we brought the dogs and the cats down to live with me so we could consolidate and save some money by renting out our home. Lydia has been a champ living alone in Denver, working and being without us. Her community has been amazing. I don't know if we could have taken this adventure on without our community.

Lydia and I are over it, to say it lightly, about our times away from each other. The past two years have been a whirlwind with my work schedule, school and then moving away from Denver. Enough talk about all that!

We are so excited to share our adventures with you all and look forward to our summer. Get this, we are traveling the whole summer together! Just us, the dogs, bikes, raft, climbing gear and the open road! So by the end of the summer, after spending 24 7 together, we might be ready for my last two semesters of seeing each other part time (doubt it). Know that when I say "just us" that also includes the us that is our community. Come on out and play with us!

It all starts June 1st when I run up to Denver and steal Lydia away from work. Until then I guess I'll plan the wedding details. I'm sure I'll find things to keep me over busy now that I'm out of school. Right now I'm getting in some mom and sis time in lovely Santa Fe. Soon I'm off to Denver to see Bono! Yippie can't wait (Oups was that out loud?). Oh and of course my honey.

We will do our best to keep you all, our beloved community, informed about our adventures. I'm sure there will be opportunities to meet up and play together. I'll get something out on the blog and share what we have planned for our summer honeymoon travels. I like the way that sounds.

Hope to see you all soon!

``Madge``